ERIC Number: EJ1385544
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2023-Aug
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1938-8926
EISSN: EISSN-1938-8934
Cultural Congruity and Academic Confidence of American Indian Graduate Students in STEM: Peer Interactions, Mentor Cultural Support, and University Environment Fit
Journal of Diversity in Higher Education, v16 n4 p425-436 Aug 2023
This quantitative study aimed to understand processes germane to Indigenous graduate students' transcultural socialization in Science, Engineering, Technology, and Math fields (STEM). We theorized that transculturation and "wayfinding" are complementary socialization processes to promote healthy socialization of Indigenous graduate students in STEM. We hypothesized that socialization components including peer interactions, mentor's cultural support, and university environment fit would facilitate academic confidence and cultural congruity. We conducted an exploratory study using a sample of 44 Indigenous STEM graduate students from 12 American public research universities. Our results found elevated levels of cultural congruity among those students who reported more favorable peer interactions, but the simultaneous experiences of mentor's cultural support and university environment fit did not reveal such an influence. Students reported greater levels of academic confidence in the presence of mentor's cultural support and university environment fit but not for peer influence. We situated these findings within prior research and recommendations for programs and practices where universities, peers, and mentors can provide cultural support, inspire academic confidence, and further enhance well-being through honoring the cultural strengths of Indigenous students.
Descriptors: Graduate Students, Indigenous Populations, American Indian Students, STEM Education, Self Esteem, Academic Achievement, Cultural Background, Peer Relationship, Interaction, Mentors, Social Support Groups, College Environment, Socialization, Acculturation, Student Experience
American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Science Foundation (NSF), Alliances for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP); National Science Foundation (NSF), Education and Human Resources (EHR); National Science Foundation (NSF), Division of Human Resource Development (HRD)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: 1432932; 1432910; 1432694; 1431773